Railroad car for transporting road vehicles



2 SHEETS w. M. HOLLAN D' RAILROAD CAR FOR TRANSPORTING ROAD VEHICLESFeb. 12,- 1952 Filed March '29. 1949 w Mm R.

0 M. i I W IM A w w Nam a 8 a L J 3 ofiu i Q Q\/ o )I \IN J 0 \.6.\% J Qx Ru 3 3 v o 8 i. pm a a. a\ a Wm bu as Feb. 12,1952 w. M. HOLLAND2,585,126

RAILROAD CAR FOR TRANSPORTING ROAD VEHICLES Filed March 29. 1949 2Sl-lEETS-Sl-EET 2 IN VEN TOR. Mama/M 5921mm Patented Feb. 12, 1952UNITED STATES TENT orrice:

William M. Holland, Indianapolis,- Ind;

ApplicationMarch29, 1949, Serial No. 84,053.

13 'Claims. l

The presentinventlon relates to a: railroad car provided with specificdetails of construction adapting it for transporting roadvehicles suchas freight trailers andmore particularly semitrailers. Myriad reasonsexist for haulingloa-cled freight carriers of thischaracter, betweencities, by rail, rather than over the highways. Weight and lengthlimitations imposed, by the laws of the various states radically limitthe types of loads which may be, transported over the highways. Vehiclescarrying heavy loads and movingover the; highways at relatively highspeeds cause serious damage to suchhighways, whereas thesamevehicles'with the same loads, movingat the relativelylow speeds imposedbyurban regulations, will notdamage the difierently constructed citystreets;

Goods loaded into trailers adapted for road travel can be convenientlydeliveredto; points of storage or use, or can be, loaded at points of'manufacture or supply, so that theroad trailer type ofvehicle isessential to complete the transportation of such goods frompoints ofsupply to points of use. If those goods are transported, between cities,in oron railroad cars of standard construction, it becomes necessary, ofcourse, to load thegoods onto-trucks or trailers at the point of-'supply, carry them to a railroad depot, there unload them from theroarivehicle and, either concu'rrentlyor subsequently, load them ontorailroadcars; then transport them to-the city of 'use by rail and there unloadthem from the railroad cars, load them onto road vehicles, transportthem to the point of use, and there again unload them. The enormousadvanta e, inboth time and labor, which can be attained by transportingthe loaded road vehicle between cities will be obvious,

It is-the primaryobject of my'invention, then, to provide a railroadcar.specifically designed and" constructed to accommodate loaded roadvehicles for transportation, between cities. It will beobvious that itwould not be feasible simply to run such a vehicle onto a standardfi'atcar. and to allow it to, stand on the deck of the car during suchtransportation, since the problem of anchoring the vehicle to, the, cardeckinsuch a fashion as to ensure a, safe ride, in spite of the joltsand jerks and centrifugal forces to which it would be subjected duringsuch transportation, WOl11d be' SO' difiicultas to render' such aprocedure impractical. The pres" ent invention, therefore, isprimarily-concerned with theprovision of means whereby road vehioles'can be effectively positionedandanchored iupon a railroad car. forinterurban transporta- Further objects of the invention will appear asthe description proceeds.

To the, accomplishment of the above andrelated objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that thedrawingsareillustrative only, and thatchange may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig.- l-is a more or less diagrammatic sideelevation of a railroad carconstructed in accordance with the present invention, showing twofreight semi-trailers supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentaryview-oi snch car and a portion of oneof the trailers, the well structure of the present invention beingillustrated in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of well structure of thecharacter illustrated-in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section showing amodified form of wellstructure; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of theform of "well structureillustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I haveindicated'by the reference numeral iii a railroad flatcar comprisingtrucks II and i2 suitably supporting a frame I3 upon which is carried adeck [4. Wells, indicated generally by the reference numerals l5, I6, l1and [8; are built into the car It; the-wells l5'and' I6 being locatedclosely adjacent the opposite-ends of the frame, and the wells llandlsbeing located near the longitudinal center of: the frame, the well ITbeing s1ightly' spaced from such centerin one direction and thewelll8being similarly'spaced therefrom in the opposited-irection. Thevarious well units may be identicalin construction, and therefore thedetails of the well 15' only have been illustrated and will-'bedescribed.

A semi-trailer IQ of conventional constructionis shown asbeing carriednear one end of the deck M, its wheels 20 being sunk in the-well IE to adegree sufiicient to bring its axle 21 substantially to the level of thedeck I4; In accordance with standard practice, the front end ofthetrailer-l9 is supported upon a hydraulic dolly leg-:22; and I haveroughly indicated coupler means 23 adapted to be cooperatively;associated'with the'flfth wheel of' a conventional tractor:

I have shown a second trailer 24 supported upon the deck l4 near theforward end thereof. It will be seen that its wheels 25 are in registrywith the well |8, its front end being supported upon a dolly leg 26; andI have indicated coupler means for the trailer 24 at 21.

Ideally, the right-hand end of the car will be brought to juxtapositionwith a loading platform, and the trailer l9, coupled to a tractor, willbe backed onto the deck M from such loading platform, and will be movedto the remote end of the deck l4 until its wheels 20 register with thewell l5. The tractor will now be uncoupled and driven oil the car,whereafter the wheels 20 will be lowered to their illustrated positionsby operation of the well mechanism later to be described, while thefront end of the trailer will similarly be lowered by operation of thedolly leg 22. The trailer |'9 may, if desired, be further anchored tothe car by any suitable means.

After the trailer l9 has been positioned, and either before or after itis lowered in the manner above described, the trailer 24 will be backedonto the car It to bring its wheels 25 into registry with the well l8.After the tractor is uncoupled from the trailer 24 and removed from thecar, the trailer 24 will be lowered, in a similar manner, into aposition corresponding to that in which the trailer I9 is shown.

Obviously, only the wells l and I8 will be used when the car is loadedin the illustrated manner; but the wells |6 and are preferably providedso that the car may be similarly loaded from its opposite end.

Referring, now, to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the well l5comprises a housing or frame 28 suitably supported upon the car frame I!beneath the level of the deck M, and in registry with an openin 38 insuch deck. Preferably, the front and rear edges of such opening will bedefined by transverse beams 29 and 3D to which the frame 28 is hung.Brackets 3| are secured to the beam 29 and support a transverse bearing32 upon which is hingedly mounted a platform leaf 33. The leaf bracketsmounted on said bearing depend from the under surface of the leaf 33intermediate the edges of said leaf but more remote from the rear edge34 than from the forward edge 31 thereof. Preferably, the rear edge ofthe leaf 33 is slotted as at 35 to define rearwardly projecting,transversely spaced furcations 36 at said edge.

Brackets 39, similar to the brackets 3|, are hung from the beam 30 tosupport a transverse bearing 40 on which a leaf 4| similar to the leaf33 is hingedly mounted, the forward edge 42 of said leaf 4| beingslotted at 43 to define forwardly projecting, laterally spacedfurcations 44 interdigitating with the furcations 36 of the plate 33.

A fluid motor 46 is pivotally supported upon a bracket 41 secured to thefloor of the frame 28, and the piston of said motor is-pivotallyconnected to a bracket 48 secured to the under surface of the leaf 33. Asuitable hose 49 indicates means for supplying fluid under pressure tothe motor 46. A similar motor 50 is similarly connected between abracket 5| on the floor of the frame 28 and a bracket 52 on the undersurface of the leaf 4|, a supply hose for the motor 50 being indicatedat 53. If -desired, the supply of fluid to the motors 46 and 50 may becontrolled by a valve 54 connected in the air line 55 normally presentin a car of the character here under consideration. Alternatively,

the motors 46 and 56 may be supplied from any suitable reservoircontaining either air or liquid under pressure, or arrangements may beprovided for pumping air or liquid to the motors 46 and 50, orexhausting air or liquid therefrom, through any suitable auxiliarymanual means (not shown).

It will be readily perceived that the leaves 33 and 4| may assumepositions in which they lie flush with the surface of the deck [4,completely closing the opening 33. The leaves will be so positioned as atrailer i9, for instance, is moved onto the car. Each of the leaves 33and 4| may extend transversely substantially from one lateral edge ofthe car to the other; or alternatively, and I now believe preferably,each well unit will have a lateral dimension only sufficient toaccommodate one vehicle wheel, a unit l5 being aligned with the unit l5and being arranged to operate conjointly therewith, said units |5 and I5being separated by a'solid continuation 63 of the deck |4.

When the wheels of the trailer |6 have been located upon the leaves 33and 4|, fluid will be controllably exhausted from the motors 46 and 50to permit the leaves 33 and 4| to swing about their bearings 32 and 40toward the positions illustrated in Fig. 2; and such movement will becontinued until the axle 2| is lowered substantially to the level of thedeck I4. I presently believe that it may be desirable to cause the axle2| to come to rest upon the deck continuation 63; but whether or not theaxle is permitted to rest upon the deck, the leaves 33 and 4| will beheld in solid engagement with the wheels 20, whereby the vehicle I9 willbe effectively held against movement longitudinally of the car l0.

' Particularly if the weight of the vehicle I9 is not permitted to cometo rest upon the deck extension 63, I believe that it will be desirablenot to force the motors 46 and 50 to sustain the entire pressure exertedby the wheels 20 against the leaves 33 and 4|, during transportation ofthe car l0; and therefore I preferably provide abutment means forsustaining the load upon said leaves while in their depressed positions.Since wheel diameters of freight trailers vary to some degree, it willbe preferable to provide abutment means which can be adjusted to sustainthe leaves 33 and 4| in various degrees of depression. In theillustrated embodiment of my invention, I have shown abutment elements56 and 51 slidably supported upon a base 58, and a screw shaft 59operatively engaging said abutment elements 56 and 51. The screw shaft59will preferably be provided with the hand wheel 60 projecting into anaccessible position at the end of the car, and said shaft is providedwith a left-hand thread 6| cooperatively engaging the element 56, and aright-hand thread 62 cooperatively engaging the element 51. It will beclear that, if the hand wheel 6!) is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed from the left of Fig. 2, the elements 56 and 51will be moved toward each other, while rotation of the hand wheel in theopposite direction will move the elements 56 and 51 away from eachother.

The trailer l9 will preferably be spotted" with its axle 20 verticallyabove the median plane parallel to the bearings 32 and 40; and even ifit is not accurately located, it will seek the specific positionillustrated in Fig. 2 as the leaves 33 and 4| begin to sink, since thewheels 20 will roll downwardly: upon eitheraof" said leaves. into; thecrotch therebetweem. th'e' dolly: leg: 22 being wheeled as shown: Theinterdigitation'e between the furcations 36 and the furcationsMhstrength-v ens the-assembly, the proportioning of the parts being suchthat the statedinterdigitation-t. is

maintained throughout the operative paths: of

movement of the leaves. Preferably, the-upper surfaces of the leaves 33and 4 i will be heavily greased to facilitate slippage of the wheels- 28over'tlie surfaces thereof' as the-leaves arecaused to swing betweentheir positions illustrated in Fig-: Z 'and positions flush-withthedeck: (4. Of course; when the rail' destination has been reached; themotors 46- and 58 -will be energized to lift the leaves into su'chflushrelation with the deck l4; ,whereafter thetrailersmaybe conpled totractors and so drawn off the car" I82 Irr-Figs; 4-and' 5; I-"liaveillustrated a: modified form "of' well unit; indicated generally: by thercferencenumeral i8: As before, thedecle I4 is provided withanopeningl'i foreachwell unit, such opening being' bounded' by-*-beams --12and-13 from which a-frame- 'M, havingafioorlfi; is supported. A blockHiis' guided in said frame for vertical reciprocation between itsillustrated position and a position in which its uppermost? surface 1'!is flush-with thedeckl4: A fluid'motor 18 is supported upon the-framefi'oor and is connected to asuitable bracket" 79* on the block 16 tocause reciprocationofsaid block; A hose 88 isconnectedtosupply fluid tothe motor 18, the flow of fluid being controlled by a valve 8| from theair line 82 or-from'any suitable source, as described above.

Brackets 83 provide a hinged1mounting,.adjacent the forward edgeof1 theopening H, for a guard plate 84 which is swingable between itsillustrated position and a position in which it" is flush with thedeck14-. the: opening; 1 l there" is' mounted a trackway 85 upon which isreciprocablyslidably supported" a block 86 carryin brackets 81 hingedlymounting a second guard plate 88 which is likewise shiftable between itsillustrated position and a position flush with the deck [4. Springs 89,only one of which is shown, are preferably associated Near therearedgeof 6- and: 88 will. be tilted-t aboutxtheir hinged mountsingscuntii, when:each1 bloclcJB; engages. the; floor 15:: of thevframe"14;. thecpartsrwilhbe iflftli'fi: positions' illustrated; in. Fig. 4;.If, under;these-hi1"; cumstances it is=found that theispacingzbetweenthe plates" 84 and 889. is .too; wide; the :hand: wheel 91: Will-berotated: to; move tlie blcckiiidvtoward the right, whereby the wheel.:zihwill be gripped between the plates 84 and 88.

As 1 h-asabeenr. said. hereinabove, ideally the vehicles is: andz i'will be loadediomandmemoved from the car In from; one" end:ther.eof;1I'm-centain yards, however, it.- will: be; found; that. such loading or.unloading: will; be; impossible or: in.-. convenient; and-thatiitzwillbe necessary to load or: unload the vehicles laterally from. the; car:

The framel3,. of course, is v sprungupon. the

trucks II and I2; and if the vehiclestlfl'i-and'ili are heavilyr loaded;movementithereof-fawajt'from the center: of? the car: might causethepar-frame to tip to asubstantial :degree. I thereforerprefer to Iprovide prop+meansfi4 i to :be permanently carrriediupon theicar.A'sillustrated;aprop'element with the plates 84 and 88, resilientlyurging said plates to positions flush with the deck M.

A screw shaft 90, having a hand wheel 8| accessibly projecting throughan end of the car frame, operatively engages the block 86, said screwshaft being rotatable in opposite directions to adjust the block 88 andthe plate 88 carried thereon toward and away from the plate 84.

As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the block 16 is provided withrecesses 92 and 93 for the accommodation of the adjacent edges of theplates 84 and 88. It will be clear that, when the block I6 is in itsuppermost position, the adjacent edges of said plates are supported insaid recesses 92 and 93.

In Fig. 5 I have shown an arrangement in which the well 18 accommodatesonly one wheel of the vehicle, and a companion well unit 18'accommodates the companion wheel of such vehicle.

As described above, the trailer will be spotted on the car with itswheels supported upon the blocks 18 of the units 18 and 18', thesurfaces 11 of said blocks being, at such time, flush with the deck I4.Now, fluid is exhausted from the motors 18 to permit the blocks 76 tosinkunder control of said motors. As the wheels 28 move downwardly, withthe blocks 16, the plates 84 84 is pivotally secured upon a bracket95t-at' each sideof' the frame I31 near eachend thereof; and is'swingable between the position illustrated; at the right-hand end of'the car;.in.whichztheelement B l-will actito prevent substantialdepression of the near side of the car; and the position illustratednearthe left-hand en'd of" the: car in which the-element,9 lfis held awayfromthe floor by: suitable latch means 96. Preferably, the-ele ment 94;whose details of construction: form: no part=of the present invention;willibeof. adjustable length;

I claim'as'my invention:

l. A railroad car comprising a load supporting deckand platformmeansxmovabl'e between-aposttion .fiush': with said deck and" expositionin which at least a portion of said platform meansdepressed below-saiddeck, such platform means being adapted to support a wheelof-a roadvehicle; and means operable to move said platform means, whilesupporting such a wheel, from either of such positions to the other,said platform means including means engaging such wheel, when saidplatform means is in its depressed position, to restrain such wheelagainst movement longitudinally of the car.

2. A railroad car for transporting road vehicles, comprising aload-supporting deck, well means adjacent each end of said deck, wellmeans near the center of length of said deck, and platform means foreach well means, each such platform means comprising an element adaptedto support a vehicle wheel and means for moving said element between aposition flush with said deck and a position in which at least a portionof said element is disposed at a level substantially below said deck,the platform means for said well means near the center of length of saiddeck comprising an element spaced slightly in one direction from suchcenter and an independent element spaced slightly in the oppositedirection from such center, and the moving means for said last-namedelements being independent.

3. In a railroad car having a load-supporting deck provided with anopening therein, platform means effective, at times, to close suchopening comprising a leaf hingedly mounted adjacent the forward edge ofsuch opening, a leaf hingedly mounted adjacent the rear edge of suchopening, said leaves projecting from their hinged mountings toward eachother and cooperating with each other, when said leaves are flush withsaid deck,

to close said opening, and means engaging said leaves in regions betweenthe hinged mountings thereof, for swinging said leaves about theirhinged mountings to move the mutually projecting portions thereofbetween such flush position and positions below the level of said deck.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said lastnamed means comprises a fluidmotor for each leaf.

5. The device of claim 4 including positive stop means for each leafacting to support such leaf when in its lowered position.

.6. The device of claim 5 in which such stop means comprises 'anabutment element for each leaf and means for concurrently shifting saidabutment elements toward or away from the median plane parallel with theaxes of said hinged mountings.

. 7. The device of claim 6 in which said lastnamed means comprises ascrew shaft having a right-hand thread operatively engaging one of saidabutment elements and a left-hand thread operatively engaging the otherof said abutment elements.

8. The device of claim 3 in which that edge of each leaf adjacent theother leaf is provided with a plurality of furcations interdigitatingwith the furcations of the other leaf throughout the swinging paths ofsaid leaves.

9. ,In 'arailroad car having a. load-supporting deck' provided with anopening therein, platform means effective, at times, to close suchopening comprising a vehicle wheel-supporting block, means for guidingsaid block for vertical reciprocation between a position in which itsuppermost surface is flush with said deck and a position in which saiduppermost surface is substantially below said deck, means for shiftingsaid block between said positions, and a guard plate hingedly mountedadjacent the forward edge of such opening and a guard plate hingedlymounted adjacent the rear edge of such opening, said guard platesswinging, upon lowering of said block, into positions engaging a wheelsupported on said block to hold such wheel against movementlongitudinally of said car.

10. The device of claim 9 including means for adjusting one of saidplates and its hinged mounting toward and away from the other of saidplates and its mounting.

11. The device of claim 9 in which said guard plates are swingable intoand out of positions flush with said deck, and including meansresiliently urging said plates toward such positions.

12.. The device of claim 9 in which said block engages the adjacentedges of said plates, when said uppermost block surface approaches aflush relation with said deck, to support said plates against movementabout the axes of their hinged mountings.

13. In a railroad car having a, load-supporting deck, means forretaining a wheeled vehicle supported on said deck against substantialmovement longitudinally of said deck comprising a device shiftable in agenerally vertical direction relative to the upper surface of said deck,between a position substantially flush with such surface, in which thewheels of such a vehicle are free to move in either directionlongitudinally of such deck, and a position at a different level, inwhich said device positively engages said wheels to block the sameagainst movement in either direction longitudinally of such deck.

WILLIAM M. HOLLAND REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,305,444 Pond Dec. 15, 19422,489,024 Gaynor Nov. 22, 1949 2,497,682 Mertz Feb. 14, 1950

